Guest Blog, by Emma Meadus, Head Teacher at Coppice Valley Primary School
I know many parents will be worrying about September and how they can help prepare their children for starting school. A lot of people talk about being school-ready and parents often worry this means academic skills like writing their name, knowing phonics or being able to count. But our advice would be not to worry about these things, we’ll handle them when they get into school.
Here are my Top Tips for Preparing for Starting School
Independence
If you really want to focus on improving your child’s skills, I’d recommend you work on independence. Some of the things that can upset a smooth transition are the things that parents automatically do for their kids but that we can’t always do for them. Of course, school staff will do their best to help every child but getting around 30 children all stuck in their coats is challenging! Practice these skills:
· Getting a coat on and off on their own.
· Putting shoes and wellies on and off.
· Using a knife and fork independently.
· Opening their snack e.g. unpeeling a banana or satsuma.
· Toilet routines – pulling down/up clothes, flushing and handwashing.
Talking about Challenges
This may sound strange but one of the best things you can do for your child is to have some low-key “What to do if…” chats, like what to do if you can’t find your coat, what to do if you need the toilet. This will build their confidence. We all feel more secure when we’ve a got a plan for facing problems and being school ready is about knowing how to help yourself or get help in the unplanned moments.
Try to hit the right balance so you don’t cause additional anxiety in your child, but a few talks will help them feel prepared for challenges. I think we can make things harder for ourselves and our children by talking about important milestones, like starting school, as if everything about them is going to be positive. Children will naturally feel nervous at the thought of the change but we do them a disservice if we don’t recognise it with them. We set ourselves and them up for a fall. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying we should scare them or ourselves. I think we need to have a balanced view and talk about all the things that are exciting and good but then acknowledge that some things may be harder.
Prepare yourself as Parent
My last tip is about preparing yourself for the inevitable end of the honeymoon period. Starting school is emotionally and physically demanding for the children. Most children will, no matter how much they’re loving school, at some point become tired and overwhelmed and not want to go to school. This can happen after a day, a week, a month or more – all children are unique and have different levels of resilience. For parents, this can be really stressful and worrying but a little preparation now can do wonders to ease the strain.
· Get into a good bedtime and morning routine. Plenty of downtime and rest after school is a good idea to allow children time to unwind. Rushed and chaotic mornings before school can make children stressed which can manifest as school-anxiety. Getting up a bit earlier, making sure you have time for a peaceful breakfast and easy journey to school can make all the difference. You can begin this now, before school starts.
· Try asking your child what changes could be made to help, either at home or at school. Young children may not be able to articulate what the problem is, but they can often tell you what they need to feel better. You can come up with a plan to help them manage their worries.
· Reach out to your child’s teacher for help. There are lots of things schools can do to support, like letting your child arrive a few minutes earlier than other children or bringing a favourite teddy with them as a comfort.
Leaving an upset child at school is distressing for any parent so ask your child’s teacher if the school office will give you a call in an hour to let you know how they’re doing. Early Years staff are experts in distraction and cheering up children so they’ll have them smiling again in no time. Remember, these hiccups usually don’t last long and are perfectly normal as children adjust to big school.
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